Eurosport will show live coverage of the snooker World Grand Prix in March – according to the channel’s pundit Alan McManus.
The news comes weeks after ITV Sport told Snooker Chat the channel was not to show the event, as it has done previously, because of the change of location.
World Snooker Tour announced in 2024 the world ranking event was switching from the UK to Hong Kong, in what is expected to be one of the most anticipated snooker events of the year.
The World Grand Prix will feature this season’s best 32 players. It will be the country’s first ranking event in 35 years and will take place between March 4 and March 9 at the new Kai Tak Sports Park complex.
Prize money has increased to mark the big occasion with the winner getting a huge £180,000. This is an increase of £80,000 from last season.
The arena will have a capacity of more than 4,000. There is an ambition to play host to snooker’s biggest ever live audience for a ranking tournament.
McManus told the news on his Snooker Breakfast podcast during the weekend after snooker fan Brian McGovern asked about the TV rights for the event.
“So Eurosport will be covering the World Grand Prix”
The former Masters winner responded: “There’s good news on that score actually. Eurosport are going to be doing the commentary on it.
“ITV were not able to take it obviously because of the time difference out there in Hong Kong. There’s little point having a tournament on ITV with matches starting at 7.30am or 8am. So Eurosport will be covering the World Grand Prix.
“(There is) no studio as far as I’m aware. I won’t be commentating on it myself, I’ll be on holiday that week.”
WST chief executive officer Simon Brownell said in October: “Hong Kong is a territory and market of particular significance for us. We are delighted to be utilising this new world class venue.”
